Auroville proposes sustainability meet with UK partnership

Auroville has proposed a tripartite conference with IIT Madras and the British Council on green startups and sustainability during a recent visit to Auroville by Halima Holland, the British Deputy High Commissioner for Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry.

According to a press note, during a video conference with Ms. Holland, Jayanti S. Ravi, Secretary of Auroville Foundation, and Additional Chief Secretary of Gujarat, also suggested that the German and French diplomatic missions could also be engaged as partners for such a meet.

The discussions, which were broadly focused on collaboration on youth empowerment, sustainable innovation and cultural diplomacy, also explored a “Town Hall” video-con initiative to connect Auroville’s young entrepreneurs with peers in the UK.

Ms. Holland said the UK was keen to explore tangible opportunities, particularly through the Young Professionals Scheme that sought to attract young talent.

She also mooted an initiative to encourage British youth to visit Auroville to experience a “different take on what India means”.

“There is a lot in India for British young people to learn from, and Auroville is a perfect place for that discovery”, she noted.

Ms. Ravi provided an overview of Auroville’s progress over the last four years, emphasising its role as an international township (founded in 1968) dedicated to divine consciousness and sustainable urban manifestation.

She welcomed the UK’s interest in collaborating on initiatives that promote sustainable living and holistic growth of Auroville, which was a laboratory for human unity. “We want to build bridges through youth exchanges and technical partnerships that manifest the city’s vision”.

According to the press note, the discussions also focused on tapping the potential for establishing a vocational training centre in partnership with the UK and the inclusion of British artists and authors in Auroville’s annual festivals, such as the Literature Fest and the Auroville birth anniversary celebrations.

The Deputy High Commissioner also interacted with representatives of Auroville’s key working groups, including the Funds and Assets Management Committee (FAMC), the Working Committee and the Auroville Town Development Council (ATDC).

The FAMC proposed utilising “Youth Community Coordinators” as global ambassadors to share Auroville’s unique message of human unity and collective living with the UK’s significant Aurovillian diaspora.

Later, a copy of the Auroville Master Plan was handed over to Ms. Holland.